194 best's art of angling. \ 



- — .j .. - . .. -t-»— ^- 



sorts of which the fish are remarkably fond of, and 

 are equal in goodness to the cod-bait and grass- 

 hopper, and will take the same sorts of fish. 



Worniy or Bottom-fishings comes in about the 

 iniddle of February, if the weather is mild, and 

 continues good all the year ; you may fish with 

 a worm all, or any time of the day, if the water is 

 discoloured by rain ,• but if low, clear, and fine, 

 only mornings and evenings; it is the most ge- 

 neral bait we have^ and will take every kind of 

 fish ; the propei* worms for angling are fully de- 

 scribed m this treatise. 



As in successive course the seasons roll, 



So circling pleasures recreate the soul : 



When genial spring a living warmth bestows, 



And o'er the year her verdant mantle throws, 



No swelling inundation hides the grounds. 



But chrjstal currents glide within tiieir bounds; 



The finny brood their wonted haunts for^ike, 



Float in the sun, and skim along the lake ; 



With frequent leap they range the shallow streams, 



Their silver coats reflect the dazzling beams. 



Now let the fisherman his toils prepare. 



And arm himself with ev'ry wat'ry snare ; 



His hooks, his lines peruse, with careful eye, 



Increase his tackle, and his rod re-tie. Gat. 



Happy England ! (says an elegant writer) where 

 the sea furnishes an abundant and luxurious re- 

 past, and the fresh waters are innocent and harm- 

 less pastime; where the angler in cheerful soli- 

 tude strolls by the edge of the stream, and fears 

 neither the coiled snake, nor the lurking croco- 

 dile ; where he can retire at night, with his few 

 trouts, (to borrow the charming description of old 

 Walton) to some friendly cottage, where the 

 landlady is good, and the daughter innocent and 

 l)eautiful ; where the room is cleanly, the sheets 

 smeUing of lavender, and twenty ballads stuck 



